The problem about the present curriculum in squeezing 12 years of basic education into just 10 is that students are overloaded with subjects.

Without even having to go inside a classroom, the ordinary observer can already see this from the oversized bags that students have to lug everyday, filled with books and other learning materials.

As a parent, I have seen that students are overburdened with having to study so many subjects, not to mention projects and extra-curricular activities.

One consequence is that the ordinary school day leaves our kids exhausted, with little time for play and socializing at school. This leads to the exclusion of learning social skills which is an essential part of growing up.

The main objection of parents against the K-12 is more economic than anything else. Parents fear the extra years will result in more expenses to be shouldered. They miss the point about the proposed curriculum leading to improved learning for their children.

2 Responses to The K-12 basic education curriculum

A thoughtful piece. Thanks for the comment. The concern over increased economic hardship is understandable enough. Parents figure that the sooner their kids get a job the better. School is just a formality etc. What many fail to see is that with our 10 year system, it’s not just a problem of quality but of timing. Most kids graduate at 16 years of age–they cannot sign legal contracts for employment, business or even a regular drivers license! Those who head off to college are usually ill-prepared for the level of academics needed to enroll in the best courses, which are science, technology, medicine, law and other professions. They usually end up wasting their first two years in college in “general education” and of course partying their heads off! The Deped is adding the 2 year Senior High School program, which in a way delays by two years the entry of students into the job market, ie when most are 18 years old: they can sign contracts, start businesses or go to college better prepared for its rigorous courses.

In other words, parents can expect their children to ACTUALLY get good jobs because as it is, even as OFWs our country is at a competitive disadvantage. The academic records of OFWs reflect the foreshortened course of basic education and so we lose out to better educated applicants.

The focus of Senior High School is reportedly to prepare those who want to work and not go to College at all.

I must add that the K-12 revised curriculum isn’t the cure-all solution for our educational woes.
Huge investments need to be made on strengthening the education infrastructure — classrooms, textbooks, learning aids, teacher training — at all levels.
Adding the two years will not repair the defect if the foundations of a child’s education are weak in the first place.